New York City, NY – November 4, 2026 – Hikaru Wakeel Hayakawa, Executive Director of Climate Cardinals, has received a 2026 Diana Award. The award recognizes the impact of his social action and humanitarian work, and recipients are selected by a global panel of Diana Award Judges.
The Diana Award is the legacy charity of Diana, Princess of Wales. It was established in her memory and in her belief that, with the right support, young people have the power to change the world. Each year it recognizes 200 outstanding young changemakers from around the world. Hayakawa joins this year's recipients and is included in the 2026 Roll of Honour.
The 2026 Virtual Diana Award Ceremony premiered today on The Diana Award's YouTube channel.
Hayakawa became Climate Cardinals' first full-time Executive Director in 2024. He leads one of the world's largest youth-focused climate organizations, which breaks language barriers so every community can take action and protect their future. Its programs span Chapters, Translations, a paid global Fellowship and Research.
Dr Tessy Ojo CBE, Chief Executive of The Diana Award, said: "The young people receiving the Diana Award demonstrate what is possible when passion, compassion and determination are turned into action. This recognition comes at a particularly significant moment as we look towards the 30th anniversary of the death of Diana, Princess of Wales, in 2027. Three decades on, her belief in the power of young people to make a difference continues to resonate across generations and borders."
Learn more about The Diana Award and Climate Cardinals' programs. #2026DianaAwards
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Press Inquiries:
Hikaru Wakeel Hayakawa, Executive Director: [email protected]
About Climate Cardinals
Climate Cardinals is one of the world's largest youth-focused climate organizations. It breaks language barriers so every community can take action and protect their future, with a vision of climate resilience for all. Since 2020, more than 21,000 young people in 145 countries have volunteered with Climate Cardinals. Today it runs 180+ active chapters in 46 countries, 90% of them in the Global Majority, a paid global Fellowship, a research program, and translations of climate information into 100+ languages for partners including UNESCO, UNICEF and Yale. Learn more at climatecardinals.org and on our Program Dashboard.
